Direct Financial Assistance:

This list of funds includes those giving direct financial assistance to individuals, families, and businesses impacted by COVID-19 pandemic or providing grants to community organizations supporting basic needs in Northern California. This list was compiled by ReWork the Bay, Asset Funders Network, Walter & Elise Haas Foundation, and San Francisco Foundation and is updated regularly.

Benefits/ Unemployment:

Federal Stimulus Package: The federal stimulus package, which is expected to be signed into law on March 27, includes a one-time payment of $1,200 to individuals who file a 2018 or 2019 return and earn an income of up to $75,000, or $2,400 payment for couples filing jointly with joint income of up to $150,000. In addition, those qualifying individuals or couples will also receive $500 per child. If your income as an individual is above $75,000 but below $99,000, or as a couple filing jointly above $150,000 but below $198,000, the amount of your check will be lower. Check IRS website for updates. Those who do not usually file taxes can check their eligibility and submit their info here.

Unemployment Insurance: If you’ve lost your job or had your hours cut as a result of the crisis, apply online for unemployment insurance at EDD.ca.gov. Check here for eligibility. The federal bill provides an extra $600 per week for up to four months for those receiving unemployment benefits. Under California law, many individuals, like Uber and Lyft drivers, who were treated by their employer as a 1099 or contract worker, are eligible for unemployment insurance, including the additional $600 federal payment because California law has reclassified many of these workers, even if the company that pays the worker has not done so yet. There will also be unemployment benefits for the self-employed; check here for updates.

Paid Family Leave: Paid Family Leave provides benefits to Californians who need to take time off work to care for a seriously ill child, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or registered domestic partner. Click here for more information.

Taxes:

Tax Filing: Both the state of California and the IRS have extended tax filing deadlines until July 15. However, if you are eligible for the federal EITC or Cal EITC and California’s child tax credit, filing your taxes before July 15 will help you get the benefit right away.

Property Taxes: Contra Costa County and Alameda County tax assessors are working to waive late fees and penalties for those taxpayers facing economic hardship. Property tax revenue is very important to our counties to deliver services so if you’re able, please pay by April 10. If facing a hardship, go to your county tax assessor’s website for info on late fees/penalty waivers.

Disability Insurance Benefits (SDI): If you receive a W-2 from your employer, in most cases you have paid into the State Disability Insurance program (SDI). This program will provide disability insurance payments for those unable to work for more than eight days due to illness (such as COVID) or injury unrelated to your job. Check the Legal Aid at Work website for more information.

Medi-Cal/CalWORKs Recipients: Gov. Newsom waived the 90-day annual redetermination reviews for Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal and CalWORKs. So, if you are currently enrolled in Medi-Cal or CalWORKs, rest assured your benefits will continue through June 16. If your Medi-Cal benefits were already terminated, you have to reapply.

New Medi-Cal Applicants: The state has expedited Medi-Cal for new applicants, waiving certain paperwork requirements including citizenship docs. Homeless individuals just need to state on application that they are homeless and will be expedited. All applications can be done through the Covered California website.

General Food Assistance:

CalFresh: If you qualify for and need CalFresh food assistance benefits (the state’s food stamp program), applications can be done online, at GetCalFresh.org. If you are already receiving CalFresh, you will keep your coverage through May and won’t need to be recertified.

The Fruitvale- San Antonio Senior Center will be closed until April 5th. We will continue food distribution for our Senior Center clients from 11-1 PM Monday-Friday. Call 510-535-6123 to reserve a lunch, walkins OK too, must be able to fill out intake form.

Berkeley & Albany:

Hours may change, so check back for updates. You can also call 510.616.5383 for updated hours information.

The Berkeley Food Network’s on-site pantry will remain open during this period of COVID-19 containment as long as we are able to source food. Anyone in need of free food is welcome to visit. BFN’s food distributions are open to Bekeley and Albany residents only.

Packaged food drop-off in front of The Long Haul (3124 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley) Tuesdays 6:30-7:00 PM (not an exact time as Jon, the sole volunteer, does this as a free-lance service). Items are freely available to be taken once dropped-off and includes vegan and vegetarian food options too.

Market amended hours, some with hours for ‘at-risk’ community:

Albertsons/Safeway/Vons/Lucky/Andronicos(all Albertson’s company stores – check the link):At a minimum, the company will reserve every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m. for those vulnerable shoppers who must leave home to obtain their groceries, unless otherwise locally mandated.

Target: Starting Wednesday (3/18/2020), the retailer will “reserve the first hour of shopping each Wednesday at stores nationwide for vulnerable guests,” Target said, adding it is “encouraging other guests to plan their shopping trips around this time frame.” All Target stores will close at 9:00PM.

Whole Foods:Starting Wednesday (3/18/2020), all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. and Canada will let customers who are 60 and older shop one hour before opening to the public.

School Specific Food Resources

Oakland:

Twelve schools in Oakland will open for “grab and go” breakfast and lunch meals for students, who would also be able to pick up multiple days worth of food to take home, OUSD said. The meal programs will be open Monday and Thursday between 8 a.m. and noon at the following schools:

Description: 24/7 Crisis Hotline. Callers do not need to be experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings to call. The lifeline will route you to the nearest crisis center based on your area code. Translation services available.

Contact: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

Hours: 24/7

Trans LifeLine

Description: Peer support for trans folks. Callers do not have to be experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings to call. This hotline does not participate in non-consenual “rescues”. All operators are trans identified.

Contact: 877-565-8860

Hours: 24/7

Program: Family Paths

Family Paths – Parent/Caregiver Support and Resource Hotline. Confidential talk line and resource connection for individuals experiencing parenting stress or in need of support.

Contact: 800-829-3777

Hours: 24/7

NAMI hotline: Peer support information line for 800-950-6264

SF Peer Run Warm Line, which serves the entire State of California: 855-845-7415

ACCESS – 800.491.9099

Domestic Violence/ Assault:

Family Justice Center, closed for in-person meetings but clients may talk to advocates or attorneys by phone:(510) 267-8800

Victims of Crime Unit, located within Family Justice Center is closed for in-person meetings but is still sending and accepting applications by phone and mail.

Bay Area Women Against Rape 24-Hour Hotline, English and Spanish:(510) 845-7273

Utilities & Communication:

PG&E and our local Community Choice energy providers have suspended shutoffs during the crisis. Also, most cellphone carriers and internet providers have signed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pledge to provide certain benefits during the COVID-19 emergency. The pledge requires companies to keep providing service to people unable to pay their bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic, waiving certain fees, and easing data restrictions to allow consumers to freely use data during the emergency. Find out here if your company signed.

CARE Program: Due to COVID-19, California has opened the statewide CARE energy bill discount to more PG&E customers. If you recently lost your job (or are furloughed), and/or are a low income household, you may qualify for a nearly 35% discount on your electricity bill and a 20% discount on your natural gas bill. Visit ebce.org/care for more information.

Immigration Rights: If you’re impacted by the crisis due to your immigration status, please see the Legal Aid at Work website for more information on how to get help.

Transit:

AC Transit, VTA, County Connection and SamTrans are offering free bus rides in the wake of the pandemic. Please note that to protect drivers, passengers are asked to board via the rear doors if they don’t need the ramp.

Parking Enforcement: Many cities in Alameda and Contra Costa County have suspended parking enforcement. Go to your city’s website to see what your city has done on parking enforcement, extending business license deadlines, and more.

Small Businesses/Worker Cooperatives:

See information above from the COVID19 Emergency Assistance Workshop held on April 8, 2020 – includes federal, state and local resources for small businesses, small nonprofits, worker cooperatives, incorporated entities, self-employed and artists/arts organizations.

If you are a community member, you can make a difference for local businesses by contributing directly to the Fund. ICA is finalizing major commitments to the Fund and will begin deploying cash to businesses soon.

Students:

Student Loans: As of March 20, 2020, the federal government has temporarily suspended the interest it collects on student loans, and federal lenders are letting borrowers suspend their student loans and loan payments without penalty for the next 60 days.

Artists:

Wednesdays with Amy Kkweskin: Wednesdays, April 1 – 29, 11AM – 12:30PM Virtual support circles for artists, arts administrators and cultural workers who are stymied in their work and need a path forward during this pandemic. 5 sessions | $5 per session

Thursdays with Yesenia Sanchez: Thursdays, April 2 – 30, 5 – 6:30PM Virtual support circles for artists, arts administrators and cultural workers who are stymied in their work and need a path forward during this pandemic. 5 sessions | $5 per session

Artist Grant Writing Virtual Workshop: Tuesday April 7, 5:30 – 8:30pm Join artist and grant writing expert Kevin Seaman to learn the basics of grant writing in a 3-hour virtual workshop. A Zoom link will be provided upon registration, as well as a worksheet and other materials. $20 members | $30 general